Hip and thigh support for crutches

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a detachable hip or thigh support mounted on top of a conventional forearm or elbow crutch instead of the crutch handle, which is removed and used on a strut attached to the crutch tube. The preferred embodiment of the invention uses a bicycle saddle as support. The user sits on the saddle much in the same manner as he would sit on a bicyle. He may rest his foot on an additional foot rest at the tip of the crutch. The invention allows a fully non-weightbearing gait which requires far less strength, especially in the arms, than the three-point gait with conventional crutches. The user controls the crutch tube of the device with the handle and the foot rest. It is recommendable to use an additional conventional crutch on the unaffected side for better control of balance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] 1. Field of Invention

[0005] The invention relates to a detachable hip and thigh support whichcan be attached to a conventional forearm or elbow crutch after removalof the crutch handle. The support contains a cushioned saddle equal orsimilar to those used in bicycles. When the user is seated on thesupport, the unaffected leg touches the ground, whereupon the affectedleg is kept non-weightbearing.

[0006] The main advantage of the invention is that hardly any force isrequired in the arms and that a non-weightbearing gait can be achievedwith much less effort than in the three-point gait with two conventionalcrutches. Prolonged standing is made more comfortable because the usercan rest on the saddle much in the same manner as he would sit on abicycle.

[0007] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0008] The idea to use a knee or lower leg support in crutches as aweight protecting means is not new. A 1568 painting by Pieter Bruegelthe Elder, “The Beggars” (Louvre, Paris) depicts several wooden crutcheswith lower leg supports, and other later paintings by different artistsshow wooden axillary crutches with knee or lower leg rests. Since then,many further supports have been developed.

[0009] However, only a few of these devices can achieve weightprotection of the whole leg. Apart from the three-point gait with a pairof crutches, only the Thomas Splint has achieved a more widespread use.However, a Thomas Splint is somewhat difficult to fasten and not veryconvenient to wear. As it is a fairly expensive device which must becustom made, its use is restricted to patients who have to remainnon-weightbearing for a prolonged time, e.g. children with Perthes'disease or adults with comminuted femoral or tibial fractures.

[0010] Until now, the majority of patients have to cope with thedisadvantages of normal crutches or walkers; if they cannot, their onlyalternative is to use a wheel chair.

[0011] What is lacking is an easy-to-use, off-the-shelf walking aid,preferably with crutch-like handling properties. The present inventionprovides such a device which can be mounted on a conventional forearm orelbow crutch after a minor modification. It is easy to manufacture anduses a normal light-weight bicycle saddle, a standard crutch handle andother readily available items, so that production costs can be keptcomparatively low.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to a support which allows acomplete weight protection of the whole leg, from the hip joint to thetoes. The invention uses a bicycle saddle, or a cushioned support ofsimilar shape, on which the user sits much in the manner he would sit ona bicycle seat. The body weight is transferred to the saddle via thesciatic tuberosities and the buttocks. Down from the hip, the leg isleft unloaded.

[0013] The saddle or seating cushion is mounted on top of a standardforearm or elbow crutch where the handle has been removed. A few inchesbelow the seat, a strut is fixed at the crutch tubing (in a preferredembodiment, the strut contains a fixation clamp) and the crutch handleis mounted on a pole or short tube which extends from the other end ofthe strut.

[0014] In order to increase wearing comfort, a foot rest may be attachedto the lower end of the crutch, close to the tip.

[0015] To use the invention properly, some basic skill is required. Theuser must be able to maintain a certain degree of balance, but the sameapplies to a pair of crutches. Learning how to ride a bicycle iscertainly more difficult than learning how to handle the invention.Compared to crutches, far less arm strength is required and the wristdoes not have to be stressed by more than a few pounds, just enough tolift the device off the ground during forward displacement. For a safewalk, the use of an additional, conventional crutch is recommended.However, if the user wants to cover just a short distance and feelssufficiently skilled, the device can be used alone and allows to useboth arms freely in the stationary standing position.

BRIEF DESCIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0016] The drawing shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention as described above in the brief summary section. Theindividual components are identified by 1-5. They are described below inthe detailed description section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The objective of the present invention is to allow anon-weightbearing ambulation which protects the arms from excessive loadand which leaves the user as mobile as he would be when using aconventional pair of crutches.

[0018] Depending on the region of the leg which must be protected fromweight bearing, several support points at which the load is transferredfrom the leg to the walking aid can be chosen.

[0019] For a protection of the foot or lower leg, the knee is a wellsuited support point and several crutch or walking aid modificationshave been described which fit the requirements.

[0020] For a protection of the knee or upper leg, the situation isdifferent. The only aid available is a leg brace with a support for thesciatic tuberosity, the Thomas Splint.

[0021] This brace requires a shoe elevation on the other side and isfairly expensive, because it has to be made to measure. Apart from that,the tuberosity support is no comfortable rest area. The additional useof a conventional pair of crutches is required for a safe ambulation.The user has to plan his moves well in advance. When he wants to get up,he has to put on the other side of his trousers first, then the shoe onthe other side, then put on the brace, then the remaining trousers, andthen, finally, reach for his crutches, get up and walk

[0022] The present invention cannot avoid using the buttock or thebackside of the thigh (the hamstring area) as support point. However, itmakes use of well established methods to support the body at this areaand combines them with other components to produce a crutch-like devicewhich is simple, effective and very easy to put on and off.

[0023] The preferred embodiment of the invention consists of fiveessential components. They are depicted in the drawing and are numbered1-5:

[0024] 1. A lightweight, bicycle type saddle which is preferably wellpadded and sufficiently narrow (1). A broad, gel cushioned saddle isfairly heavy and tends to slip away to the back when a forward step ismade. Therefore, a narrower sports model is recommended.

[0025] 2. A standard elbow crutch where the handle piece has beenremoved. The saddle 1 is mounted on top of the remaining crutch tube(2).

[0026] 3. A strut (3) which contains a clamp element on one end andprovisions to mount an elbow or forearm crutch handle on the other end.This strut has to be made strong enough to bear the whole body weight ofthe user in any direction; yet, it should be as lightweight as possible.Aluminum alloys as used in aircraft (e.g. Dural) or composite materials(glass or carbon fibre) are the preferred solution. The strut isfastened at the crutch tube 2, below the saddle, by tightening its clampelement.

[0027] 4. A standard elbow or forearm crutch handle (4). This handle mayhave been taken from the crutch tube 2. It is fixed on the other end ofthe strut 3, at the provided fixation point, e.g. by making use of asecond clamp element.

[0028] 5. A detachable foot rest (5). This rest makes the use of theinvention more convenient. It allows the user to control the movement ofthe crutch tip with both the handle 4 and the foot. In addition, itprovides a means to adopt a more comfortable position, because the legis not left hanging down when sitting on the saddle 1. In cases whereabsolute weight protection is required, the foot rest can either beremoved or be placed a little higher, so that the user can lean the backof his foot or the front of his ankle against it. This way, he can stillcontrol the movement of the crutch tip with his foot, but he is unableto put any weight onto his leg.

[0029] The most common alternative to using the present invention wouldbe a pair of crutches. However, in axillary crutches, anon-weightbearing gait easily leads to discomfort and pain in thearmpits, while forearm and elbow crutches require sufficient strength inthe arms and the capability to exert a firm grip.

[0030] When the user is seated on the support 1, the unaffected leg isheld in extension similar to the posture on a standing bicycle, whereone foot stays on the ground while the other foot remains on the pedal.The diseased leg is slightly flexed at the knee; the foot may be restedon the foot step 5.

[0031] The invention allows both a firm stand and a safe gait when asecond crutch is used on the healthy side. The affected leg remainsnon-weightbearing at all times. The main advantage of the invention isthat nearly no force is required in the arms and that anon-weightbearing gait can be achieved with much less effort than in athree-point gait with two conventional crutches.

[0032] Besides, the user can use his arm freely when he is at rest inthe stationary standing position. The handle 4 is only needed to movethe tip of the crutch forward, and this can be accomplished with littleeffort when the user has shifted his weight onto the unaffected leg.Actually, he pulls the crutch tube 2 outward and forward, but the weightof the relieved leg tends to push the crutch tip inward, so that theoverall motion is in forward direction. The angle between saddle tip,crutch tube and strut 3 is not confined to 90° but can be adjusted tothe needs of the user. A smaller angle, e.g. 60°, creates a largerforward pull and a smaller outward pull. However, a right angle willusually provide the most comfortable compromise.

What I claim as my invention is:
 1. A walking aid with the following twoessential features: a cushioned support for the buttock or the sciatictuberosity or the hamstring area (back side) of the thigh which ismounted on top of an upright member at least one handle mountedlaterally to said cushioned support in an appropriate position to allowcontrol of motion of said upright member of the walking aid by the user.2. A walking aid as specified in claim 1 where said cushioned supportconsists of a bicycle saddle.
 3. A walking aid as specified in claim 1where said upright member consists of the upright member of aconventional elbow or forearm crutch.
 4. A walking aid as specified inclaim 1 where a foot rest or an ankle support is attached to the lowerportion of said upright member.
 5. A walking aid as specified in claim 1where said handle is mounted on a strut extending from below saidcushioned support.
 6. A walking aid as specified in claim 5 where saidstrut is fixed to the upper portion of said upright member.